July 10 Industrial Action Pics

The anger about unfair pay across the public sector was on display for everyone to see on July 10 when local government workers across the country held a one-day strike, with unions involved in other long running industrial campaigns also taking action.

A large, colourful demonstration was held in Birmingham with thousands attending a rally in Victoria Square to listen to rousing speeches from a variety of speakers that included

UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis, NUT’s General Secretary Christine Blower, PCS AGS Chris Baugh, UNITE Regional Secretary Gerard Coyne, FBU’s David Pitt, and Sally Maybury, a striking GMB local government worker from Birmingham City Council.

TUC AGS, Paul Nowak, also spoke at the rally and joined striking GMB and UNISON workers on the picket line in the morning.

With local rallies being held in many cities and towns right across the region, a clear message to Government: “Midlands Needs A Pay Rise”

Whilst the economy might be growing again, across the UK real wages are still falling, with public servants everywhere facing a huge squeeze on their incomes. Pay restraint was a bitter pill to swallow during the dark days of recession, but now the economy looks to be back on its feet, public sector workers are understandably angry that their pay continues to be held down.